Threonine Imbalance, Deficiency and Neurologic Dysfunction in the Kitten

Abstract

The effect of feeding threonine-imbalanced and threonine-deficient purified diets (containing L-amino acids as the only source of dietary nitrogen on food intake, weight gain and blood plasma amino acid pattern has been examined in growing kittens. The imbalance was created by adding 17.5% of amino acid mixture lacking threonine to a low amino acid basal diet comtaining 17.5% amino acid mixture including 0.4% threonine. A depression in food intake and weight gain occurred while feeding the imbalanced diet which was corrected by adding an additional 0.2% threonine to the imbalanced diet. There was no adaptation with time in the form of increased food intake or weight gain while feeding the imbalanced diet. Plasma threonine was consistently and similarly depressed (10 to 35% of normal) while feeding the basal, imbalanced and corrected diets and increased to normal when the standard diet with 1.4% threonine was fed. Plasma threonine and total amino acid concentrations of kittens fed the imbalanced diet did not differ from those observed in kittens fed the basal diet. Signs of neurologic dysfunction and/or lameness developed in 14 of the 17 kittens fed threonine-imbalanced or deficient diets, which resolved as dietary threonine was increased.

Bilateral carpal valgus deformity in hand‐reared cheetah cubs (Acinonyx jubatus)

“…Treatment for gastroenteritis included a prescription diet with a stated crude protein content that was lower than the diet of supplemented minced whole chicken (analyzed by our laboratory) (38.5 vs. 56.94%, respectively), such that the amino acid content of the prescription diet could also be expected to be low, in association with the lower protein content. As observed in this study, no osseous abnormalities were reported in kittens, despite lameness associated with conformational abnormalities of the CV joint [Titchenal et al, 1980] and remission of symptoms in kittens was linked to feeding a diet with adequate levels of all essential amino acids [NRC, 2006;Owen, 1975]. Additionally, in cheetahs reported in this study and elsewhere [Allan et al, 2008], rectification of CV was also associated with a reduction in calcium and vitamin D 3 supplementation to approximately 1% calcium (on a dry matter basis), as well as a more balanced Ca:P ratio of 1-1.5:1.…”

“…reduction in growth rate may in turn have played a role in the observed CV as abnormal flexion of the corono-pedal joints in horses, as well as CV, have previously been associated with a lack of exercise and depressed growth in domestic kittens [Owen, 1975;Titchenal et al, 1980]. The lack of osseous involvement detected by radiography would further support this option.…”

“…Of potential concern is the fact that CV has previously been reported in domestic kittens after the consumption of a diet deficient in threonine [NRC, 2006;Titchenal et al, 1980]. Treatment for gastroenteritis included a prescription diet with a stated crude protein content that was lower than the diet of supplemented minced whole chicken (analyzed by our laboratory) (38.5 vs. 56.94%, respectively), such that the amino acid content of the prescription diet could also be expected to be low, in association with the lower protein content.…”

“…The condition has been observed in carnivores receiving improper nutrition, although some genetic influence is also possible [Allan et al, 2008;Grant, 2005;Hazewinkel et al, 1998;Lepine, 1998;Nap, 1991;Titchenal et al, 1980]. Other factors associated with skeletal abnormalities include the oversupply of energy and/or calcium, accelerated growth rates [Allan et al, 2008;Da¨mmrich, 1991;Dobenecker et al, 2006;Grant, 2005;Lepine, 1998;Nap, 1991], and/or a rapid change in nutritional plane.…”

Maintenance threonine requirement and efficiency of its use for accretion of whole-body threonine and protein in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fry

“…It has been widely documented that a reduction in feed intake may be regarded as the primary factor responsible for depressed growth in rats, chickens, kittens and beagle dogs fed diets deficient or limiting in Thr (Titchenal et al 1980;Burns & Millner, 1982;Cieslak & Benevenga, 1984;Webel et al 1996). This was also observed in the present study with Atlantic salmon fry as well as in other studies with chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta; Akiyama et al 1985), rainbow trout (Rodehutscord et al 1995a,b), common carp (Cyprinus carpio; Nose, 1979) and Catla catla (Ravi & Devaraj, 1991).…”